Does anyone know the science behind using butter as a greaser?i need to know for research but CAN NOT find a single website to tell me WHY it works
I did a science fair project on what greaser works best for grilled cheese. I️ used 6 greasers. I did my testing and got my results, and need background info as to why they work so well as greasers. I have been searching the web for the past 2 hours and haven’t found a single usable website that tells me HOW and WHY something like butter works for greasing a pan, or even why greasing a pan is necessary, like the science behind it.i am in desperate need of help!
Recommended by Food52
7 Comments
Voted the Best Reply!
As to "why grease a pan at all": proteins love to stick to other molecules like metals, especially when heated. Here's a short blurb from a book on Food Cooking:
https://books.google.com/books?id=I5FVn9EjHH0C&pg=PA218&lpg=PA218&dq=why+do+proteins+stick+to+metal&source=bl&ots=J1buuEoaFB&sig=fxa8p__xMbkJslYw2uDqcoSkEYc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwijguWpt9DYAhUB8GMKHaMPBMIQ6AEIYjAI#v=onepage&q=why%20do%20proteins%20stick%20to%20metal&f=false
Here's a link about proteins in general: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26911/
Since protein is quite reactive with metal surfaces above 175F, the fat polymer interferes with this reaction and the protein (eg. food) cannot stick to the pan.
I've really simplified the explanation. I only have a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry and it's been awhile since I've worked in R&D, but this is my understanding of fatty molecule chains and protein.
So look into fatty molecule structures ("chains"), fat polymerization and possibly, protein adsorption.
Cook's Illustrated: The Science of Good Cooking, by The Editors of America's Test Kitchen and Guy Crosby Ph.D
On Food and Cooking, by Harold McGee
The Kitchen as Laboratory: Reflections on the Science of Food and Cooking, by César Vega, Job Ubbink, and Erik van der Linden
Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking by Nathan Myhrvold, Chris Young, and Maxime Bilet, and Modernist Cuisine at Home by Nathan Myhrvold and Maxime Bilet
I'm Just Here for the Food and Gear for Your Kitchen by Alton Brown
(Likely chemistry; possibly physics having to do with the material composition of the pan.)
Talk to one or more people in those subjects (scientists, research librarians); who can direct your research to useful areas.